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Vol. LXV, No. 44
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
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50/50 (R for sexuality, drug use, and profanity). Drama about a 27-year-old writer (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who learns whats most important in life after being given a 50/50 chance of beating a rare form of spinal cancer. With Anjelica Huston, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Philip Baker Hall.
Anonymous (PG-13 for violence and sexuality). Drama, set in the Elizabethan era, addressing the speculation that it was the earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans), not the Bard of Avon (Rafe Spall), who penned the complete works of William Shakespeare. With Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, and Trystan Gravelle, and narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi. In English, French, Italian, and Greek.
The Big Year (PG for profanity and some sensuality). Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson co-star in this comedy, set in 1998, about three avid ornithologists competing against each other to spot rare species in an annual bird-watching contest. Cast includes Rashida Jones, Anjelica Huston, Anthony Anderson, Brian Dennehy, Corbin Bernsen, Tim Blake Nelson, and Dianne Wiest.
Courageous (PG-13 for violence and drug use). Alex Kendrick wrote, directed, and co-stars in this parable about the trials and tribulations of four colleagues facing different ethical dilemmas while serving on the Albany, Georgia, police force. Cast includes Ken Bevel, Ben Davies, and Kevin Downes.
The Debt (R for violence and profanity). International espionage thriller, set in 1997, about three former Mossad Agents (Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, and Ciaran Hinds) who come out of retirement to track down a Nazi war criminal (Jesper Christensen) on the loose after already being apprehended by them 35 years earlier. With Jessica Chastain, Martin Csokas, and Sam Worthington.
Dolphin Tale (PG for mature themes). Fact-based drama, shot in 3-D, recounting the heartwarming story of a boy (Nathan Gamble) befriended by a bottlenose dolphin that lost its tail in a crab trap. Cast includes Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson, and Harry Connick, Jr.
Footloose (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, violence, and teen drug and alcohol abuse). Remake of the 1984 Kevin Bacon classic about a city kid who moves from Boston to a small town in Georgia where he falls in love with the preachers (Dennis Quaid) daughter (Julianne Hough) while leading a rebellion against a local ordinance banning loud music and dancing. With Andie MacDowell, Miles Teller, and SerDarius Blain.
The Guard (Unrated). Comedy about a quick-tempered Irish cop (Brendan Gleeson) who teams with a mild-mannered FBI agent (Don Cheadle) to crack an international drug-smuggling ring operating in Galway. With Fionnula Flanagan, Mark Strong, and Liam Cunningham. In English and Gaelic with subtitles.
The Help (PG-13 for mature themes, ethnic slurs, and expletives). Screen adaptation of Kathryn Stocketts poignant bestseller, set in Mississippi in the early sixties, contrasting the fortunes of privileged white females and their black housekeepers oppressed by Jim Crow segregation on the opposite side of the strictly-enforced color line. Cast includes Oscar winners Sissy Spacek and Mary Steenburgen, nominees Viola Davis and Cicely Tyson, along with Emma Stone, Allison Janney, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Aunjanue Ellis.
The Ides of March (R for pervasive profanity). George Clooney wrote, directed, and co-stars in this adaptation of the play Farragut North, a political potboiler about an idealistic press secretary (Ryan Gosling) who compromises a presidential candidates prospects by becoming embroiled in a scandal while on the campaign trail. With Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, and Evan Rachel Wood.
In Time (PG-13 for violence, sexuality, graphic profanity, and partial nudity). Science fiction thriller set in a dystopia where the rich live forever because time is literally money, and revolving around the effort of an unfairly accused fugitive of justice (Justin Timberlake) to clear his name while destroying the corrupt economic system with the help of a beautiful heiress (Amanda Seyfried). With Olivia Wilde, Matt Bomer, and Aaron Perilo.
Johnny English Reborn (PG for mild violence, rude humor, brief sensuality, and brief profanity). Rowan Atkinson reprises the title role in this James Bond parody in which the bumbling British spy attempts to redeem himself by foiling an assassination attempt on a head of state by a team of bloodthirsty assassins. With Gillian Anderson, Rosamund Pike, Dominic West, and Ben Miller. In English, Mandarin, and Chinese with subtitles.
The Lion King (G) 3-D rerelease of 1994 animated Disney adventure about the triumphant return from exile of a guilt-ridden lion prince (Matthew Broderick) who had abdicated the throne after being duped by his younger brother (Jeremy Irons) into believing that he was the cause of their fathers (James Earl Jones) untimely death. Voice cast includes Whoopi Goldberg, Nathan Lane, and Rowan Atkinson. In English, Swahili, Xhosa, and Zulu.
Midnight in Paris (PG-13 for sexual references and smoking). Romantic comedy, directed by Woody Allen, about the troubles of a couple (Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams) who find themselves reevaluating their elusive dreams while in France on business. With Kathy Bates, Michael Sheen, Marion Cotillard, Adrien Brody, Alison Pill, Tom Hiddleston, and Carla Bruni.
The Mighty Macs (Unrated). Tale of female empowerment recounting the real-life exploits of tiny Immaculata Colleges basketball team which in 1971 made a miraculous bid for the womens national championship. Cast includes Carla Gugino, Ellen Burstyn, David Boreanaz, and Marley Shelton.
Moneyball (PG-13 for profanity). Baseball biopic about Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), the Oakland Athletics general manager who pioneered a successful method of drafting players on a modest budget by relying on computer-generated statistical analysis. With Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jonah Hill, and Robin Wright.
Mozarts Sister (Unrated). Historical biopic, set in 1762, examining the early years in the life of Mozarts older sister, Anna-Maria (Marie Feret), a music prodigy in her own right. With David Moreau as Wolfgang. In French with subtitles.
My Afternoons With Margueritte (Unrated). Gerard Depardieu and Gisele Casadesus co-star in this comedy about a refined elderly lady who shares her passion for literature with a lonely, middle-aged man who can barely read. With Claire Maurier, Patrick Bouchitey, and Maurane. In French and Flemish with subtitles.
Paranormal Activity 3 (R for violence, profanity, drug use, and brief sexuality). Prequel to the haunted house series finds a couple of siblings (Katie Featherstone and Sprague Grayden) befriending an invisible entity that enters their home and ends up tormenting the siblings. With Brian Boland, Lauren Bittner, and Christopher Nicholas Smith.
Puss in Boots (PG for action and mild rude humor). Animated 3-D spinoff of Shrek finds the dashing, furry feline (Antonio Banderas) teaming with Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) and a street-savvy alley cat (Salma Hayek) for a swashbuckling adventure in search of the legendary goose that lays golden eggs. Narrated by Walt Dohrn, with a voice cast including Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris as Jack and Jill.
Real Steel (PG-13 for violence, intense action, and brief profanity). Futuristic science fiction about a washed-up boxer and fight promoter (Hugh Jackman) who, with the help of the young son he never knew (Dakota Goyo), trains a robot for a championship bout. With Anthony Mackie, Evangeline Lilly, Kevin Durand, and Hope Davis.
The Rum Diary (R for profanity, sexuality, and brief drug use). Johnny Depp stars in this adaptation of the Hunter S. Thompson novel of the same name, set in the fifties, about a journalist, tired of the New York City rat race, who takes a position at a newspaper in Puerto Rico where he becomes obsessed with the fiancée (Amber Heard) of a shady real estate developer (Aaron Eckart). Cast includes Richard Jenkins, Giovanni Ribisi, and Michael Rispoli. In English and Spanish with subtitles.
Take Shelter (R for profanity). Drama about a working class family man (Michael Shannon) plagued by apocalyptic visions who finds himself struggling with whether or not to have his wife (Jessica Chastain) and daughter (Tova Stewart) hide in a backyard bunker hes built as protection from the conflagration he believes is imminent.
The Thing (R for profanity, gore, graphic violence, and disturbing images). Prequel to John Carpenters 1982 science-fiction suspense film about a paleontologist (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and a Norwegian scientist (Ulrich Thomsen) who unwittingly unleash a dormant deadly alien parasite when their Antarctic expedition discovers an extraterrestrial spaceship buried in the ice. With Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Kim Bubbs.
The Three Musketeers (PG-13 for action and violence). 3-D screen adaptation of Alexandre Dumass swashbuckling classic features the trio of legendary swordsmen (Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson, and Luke Evans) teaming with DArtagnan (Logan Lerman) to prevent the diabolical Cardinal Richelieu (Cristoph Waltz) from seizing the French throne with the help of an attractive double agent (Milla Jovovich). Supporting cast includes Helen George, Christian Oliver, Til Schweiger, and Orlando Bloom as the Duke of Buckingham.
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